Method of and apparatus for ironing



May 5, 1925.

1,536,637 H. THURNAUER METHODv OF-AND APPARATUS FOR IRONING Filed Nbv. 12. 1920 Patented May 1925 i SEATES 1,536,631 PA ENT. OFFICE- H. THURNAUER, on CINCINNATI, o-IIo.

METHOD 017 Ann APPARATUS For. momma.

a lication filed November 12,1920. seen no. 423,517.

To all whom-it may conce m."

Be it known that 1, MAX H. THURNAUE'R,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Ironing, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact de scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for ironingi The invention is particularly applicable to the ironing of fabrics of fine or delicate texture,

although,-as will hereinafter appear, its utility is not limited thereto, but extends to th ironing of heavy fabrics as well.

The ironing of fabrics of delicate texture, and in fact of fabricsof all textures, has heretofore been generally done by having two cooperating ironing surfaces-one or both of -which"are heatedengage the ma- This method of ironing fabrics of delicate texture, such as 'georgettes, marquisettes,

crepe de chines and other similar fabrics is rendered diflicult by'the fact that the direct mechanical engagement of the two ironing surfaces with the delicate fabric often draws or distorts the material out of shape,

stretches it in spots, tears it, and is other-- wise harsh on the. material, owing toits fllmsy character. Moreover, this method of 1ron1ng such materials requires considerable time and close attention, and is notadaptable to continuous, large scale operation. Similarly, in the ironin of laces by this prior method there is -o ten a tendency to draw or pull the lace out of shape; and in the case of laces having portions of their patterns raised in relief, it is onlypossible" .to iron the depressed portions of the lace by employing a very pliable surface in which theraised portions of the pattern can imbed themselves.

This mode of operation.

I propose alleviating the difficulties of ironing fabrics of these characteristics by re"- taining the fabric in pressure contact with generally involves a slow i the heated ironing surface under a pneumatic pressure, instead of under a mechanical pressure from a mechanical ironing member bearing upon the material; according to the present embodiment of the invention, this pneumatic pressure upon the material is effected by establishing a suction through the face of the heated ironing member in such a manner as to draw the material into engagement with the ironing surface. This ironing surface is preferably in the form of a large, fiat heating plate having a multitude of small perforations in its surface through which the suction acts to draw the material to the plate. Theironingsurface may, however, be made non-planor in form;

for example, having an appropriate configuration for the ironing of hats, gloves,

stockings, etc. The advantages of this method of ironing will be immediately apparent. The'ironing pressure is. at all times resilient under the elasticity of the air pres sure, andlsunlform over the entire lI'OIllIlg surface, there being no irregularities or unequal distribution of the ironing pressure as may exist between two co-operating ironing members. A very extended area of iron: ing surface is afforded on even a device of comparatively small siz e, and hence a large area of fabric may be ironed in a simultaneous operation. When ironing lace the suction acts uniformly over all portions of the lace, drawing such portions of thepattern as are in reliefas well as the intervening 10W portions of the pat tern down into re silient pressure contact with the ironing surface. I The material may be drawn across the ironing surface, or may be merely spread.

out in the position to be ironed'and then laid upon the ironing surface.

. The air permeating through the fabric has the beneficial action of opening upthe'texture, and gives body to the material, especially where the texture has become matted down. This action in conjunction with the actioniof drawing the material across a sta tionary ironing surface may be employedwith particular advantage on certain classes of the heavier textiles for raising the outer finish of the texture, such as for raising the pile of velvet. I

The suction has the further characteristic of extracting all of-th'e moisturefrom the and drying operation. I am aware that suction has heretofore been employed for extracting moisture from fabr1cs, but in the present invention this drying characteristic of the suction is secondary to the fundamental concept of employing suction for creating the requisite ironing pressure.

A diagrammatic emhodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing for the purpose of apprismg those skilled in the art the manner my invention.

In the drawing:

of practicing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ironing apparatus, the source of suction, and the electrical circuits therefor;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment devised for the blocking or ironing of hats; v

Figure 3 is a similar view of another modified embodiment for the same purpose.

The ironing device comprises a flat plate 5 having downwardly extending marginal flanges 6-6 which define a suction chamber 7. The bottom of the suction chamber 7 is closed off by a bottom plate 8 which issecured to the flanges or side-walls 6-6,. a gasket 8 being interposed between the plate and the flanges to maintain a suction tight 'oint.

J The upper surface .of'the plate 5 constitutes the heated ironing surface, designated 9. Extending transverselyacross this plate are rows of small perforations 11- which establish suction communication between the upper surface of the plate and the suction chamber 7 below.. Each row-of perforations 11 opens into a transverse groove/12 of V.-

Q suction. The valves 35 are adapted to en- .gage the bottom plate 8.-and be held in closed engagement therewith by the suction.

Formed in the upper surface of the plate 5 and intermediate the grooves 12, are series of transverse slots 14. An electrical heating element 15 is disposed in each of these transverse slots 14, the upper surfaces of each heating element preferably being flush with the upper surface of the plate 5. Each of these heating elements preferably consists of a resistance wire or conductor imbedded in a suitable refractory material which is formed to fit snugly within the slot-ted open- I ing 14. The several heating elements 15 are part of the suction box and its corre-' all connected together at their ends, in series or parallel, preferably the latter, and current is applied to these heatingelements through wires 18 and 19. The wire 18 connects with one side of the feeding circuit consisting of the conductors 21 and22. For the purpose of controlling the temperature of the ironing surface 9 it is desirable that the current flowing to the electrical heating elements 15 be capable of regulation through the medium of any suitable means, which, in the present instance takes the form of a rheostat 23. The switch arm of the rheostat is connected with wire 19, and the several interconnected contacts of the rheostat are connected through wire 24 with the other side of the feeding circuit 2122. The heating elements 15 are preferably connected in parallel through separate circuits controlled by switches 20, so that any portion of the surface may be cut ofl from the heating effect. I do not intend to limit the invention to the use of electric heat appliances for providing the ironingheat; a gas flame, hot air, steam or any other suitable medium may be employed.

The suction chamber 7 has communication with a source of suction through the conduit 25 which opens in the suction chamher through the center of the bottom plate 95 8. The source of suction is illustrated as consisting of a blower 26, although a ump or any other means may be employed thesuction conduit 25 having in this case communication with the central intake opening 1 of the blower. The blower is driven by an electric motor 27 which has connection with the feedin circuit 2122 through wires 28 and 29. peed regulating means in this case in the form of-a rheostat 31 is interposed in the "wire 29; which wire connects with the feeding. circuit wire 21, the other motor circuit wire 28 havin connection with the other feedin circuit wire 22. A switch 32 is interpose in the feeding circuit in position to,control both the heating circuit through the electrical heating elements 15 and the motor circuit through the motor 27. It will be apparent that by regulation of the rheostats 23 and 31, the temperature of the ironing surface can be nicely controlled, and the degree of suction effective through the perforations 11 can be similarly controlled for adapting the device to materials of different textures. I also provide a valve 2 37 which controls mechanically the suction existing in the box 7.

For the purpose of diflusing the suction over the entire ironing surface instead of having it concentrated at each perforation, and to prevent the more delicate fabrics from being drawn into these perforations, I provide preferably a foraminous sheet 33 extending over the entire ironin surface. This sheet is essentially permeab e to the How of air therethrough. For this purpose I contemplate employing a finely woven wire gauze or any other'material which will diffuse the suction and stand up in use. This sheet/diffuses the suction over the entire ironing surface so that a uniform suction'prevalls at every point thereof. I also.

contemplate employing a foraminous heating element which may form the diffusing medium. Such a heating element may consist of a fine wire. screen, partof which is the resistance and another part merely a me-v chanical support. Instead of having the current of suction penetrate through the ironing surface, it might be arranged to act across the ironing surface, through the provision of grooves in the ironing surface or any other suitable construction. 7

In the operation of the device the material iseither drawn across the ironing surface with a continuous motion, or is laid out flat on the surface and left in contact therewith for a short period. The heat and suction may be cut ofi' prior to applying the article to be ironed and may again be. cut ofi' when the article is to be removed. In ironing fabrics of continuousweb form the web is merely drawn across the ironing surface at a speed calculated to give the desired interval of ironing contact between the fabric and the ironing surface. By drawing the material across the ironing surface in a direction with or against thenap the nap may be raised or flattened. The pile of velvet and other pile goods may be thus raised during' the. ironing operation by drawing the material in such direction that the combined. effect of the air permeating through the fabric and the retarding influence of the ironing surface will efiectively raise thefpile of the goods. In the ironing of fabrics of delicate textures, it will be noted that the ironing restricted to one or more elements, as de-' pressure is not localized to a comparatively small area of the fabric, such as'is true in the case of mangle rolls or reciprocating irons, but is uni ormly distributed over a large area ofthe fabric, and hence any pulling tension on the fabric will not tend to stretch it unequally nor distort it in any manner. The heatlng and suction'may be sired, for economy,.and' for ease of opera-- tion, or to localize the effect. The 'roning pressure, moreover, has the elasticity inherent in the ainwhich presses itagainst the ironing surface and hence the possibility of tearing the fabric is eatly reduced. The itility of the device or ironing laces and )ther fabrics having atterns in raised relief will be apparent cm the fact that the suction will act to draw all portions of the fabric into contact with the ironing surface including the patterns in raised relief and the intervening portions of the fabric. The

55 air permeating through the fabric has the beneficial action of extracting the moisture and of cleaning the fabric to a certain extent of any dirt which may be contained in the. texture.

article to be ironed be permeable to air, as the suction pressure will hold the article against the ironing surface with even greater force if no air is drawn through the article. It will be noted that one of the particular characteristics ofthe invention is the fact that the article; being ironed is always visible.

It is not essential that the The invention may also beapplied to the I manufacture of articles of papier mach or paper .in causing them to 'fitagainst the forms until set By the use" of my invention any special form, shape or size may-he' secured by the 7 use of corresponding forms,--and thc goods or articles to be ironed may be drawn or shrunk'or expanded to the precise form desired. This applies,-for instance, to hats, gloves, stockings, or any-irregular shaped article; In Figure 2 I have illustrated such an embodiment designed for the ironing or blocking 5f hats. The ironing surface comprises a depression 38 conformed to receive the crown of a, hat, this depression having its individual series of perforations 41 and its heating elements 42 the same as the fiat upper surfaces 39 which irons the rim of the hat. I-his embodiment willtend to ex pand' the crown of the hat into contact with the walls of the depression, and hence may beused for enlarging or stretching hats.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated another similar embodiment comprising a raised enlargement 44 for receiving the crown. of the hat 45. This raised enlargement has a series of suction perforations 46 and heating elements 47 for ironing the crown of-the h and the plate portion has a similar series 0' perforations and heating elements for iron- .ing the brim of the-hat. The tendency of the suction perforations in this embodiment is to contract the crown of the hat and hence this form may be used for shrinking hats? Although the-suction acting upon the ironing surface is intended in the eneral adaptation of the invention to be e sole "sureherein made, but I intend-thatsuch other uses, and such other modifications of the particular apparatus, shall come within the sipirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an ironing device, an ironing memher having an ironing surface for receiving the fabric to be ironed, said member having perforations opening through said ironing surface, means for establishing a suction through said perforations for creating the requisite ironing pressure between said fabric and said ironing surface, said means tending to create a flow of air through the fabric on the ironing surface and thereby tending to extract any moisture from the fabric and means for heating the ironing surface simultaneously with the ironing pressure and moisture extracting suction therethrough. r

2. In an ironing'device, the combination of an ironing member having an ironing surface for receiving the fabric to be ironed, said member having perforations opening through said ironing-surface and means for establishing with the fabric in uncovered position upon said ironing surface a suction through said perforations and for simultaneously applying heat to said ironing member.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination of an ironing plate having a perforated surface, a suction chamber behind said perforated surface, said surface being of substantially fiat unbroken continuity and performing the ironing operation without the imposition of any mechanical pressure from an external ironing member suction creating means communicating with said suction chamber, means for heating said perforated surface, and a permeable sheet of comparatively fine texture extending across the exterior of said ironing plate, whereby the suction is prevented from localizing around the perforations in said ironing plate, but is diffused substantially uniformly over the entire ironing plate.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of an ironing plate adapted for the ironing of fabrics, the surface of said ironing plate being of unbroken continuity, the ironing operation being performed without the imposition of any'mechanical pressure from an external ironing member, a suction chamber on the back side of said ironing plate, a plurality of channels formed in the back side of said ironing plate, rows of perforations extending from said channels through said ironing plate for holding the fabric on said ironing surface by suction, a plurality of channels formed in said ironing plate between said first named channels, and electrical heating ele ments secured in said last named channels.

5. The method of ironing which comprises arranging the material to be ironed upon an ironing surface, imposing suction upon said material to create the requisite ironing pressure between the material and the ironing surface and simultaneously a flow of air through the material tending to extract any moisture therefrom and heating the ironing surface simultaneously with the suction imposition of ironing pressure on the material and the moisture extracting flow through the material.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of November, 1920.

MAX H. THURNAUER. 

